Cement fluid loss reduction

ABSTRACT

A surfactant is added to a cement containing a polymer fluid loss additive, to synergistically reduce fluid loss from the cement before it hardens.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 825,732, filed Jan. 27,1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,834, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 614,048, filed Nov. 9, 1990, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to new and useful improvements inreducing the fluid loss of cement slurries. Cement formulations of theinvention also exhibit improved interfacial sealing between the hardenedcement and pipe or borehole wall.

2. Description of Prior Art

Subsequent to drilling a borehole of an oil or gas well, casing is runinto the well and a cement slurry is placed in the annulus between theoutside of the casing and the borehole wall. Typically, the cementslurry is placed in the annulus using a successive fluid displacementtechnique. In this technique, the cement is first pumped into thecasing. Another fluid, often drilling fluid or water, is pumped behindthe cement to displace it out the bottom of the casing and up into theannulus between the casing and borehole wall. The cement slurry isusually raised to a point above the uppermost section of the formationsto be isolated and may be raised into the annulus between the casingstring being cemented and a previously cemented casing.

Differential pressure is required to place the cement in the annulus. Adifferential pressure typically exists between the fluid column in theannulus and the pore pressures of the exposed formations. Thehydrostatic pressure in the annulus immediately after the cement isplaced is usually higher than the pore pressure of exposed formations inorder to prevent flow of formation fluids into the annulus.

Since cement slurries are suspensions of solids in water and the exposedformations of the wellbore are permeable, filtration can occur. In thiscase, fluid from the cement slurry can be lost to the exposed permeableformations through filtration resulting from the pressure differentialbetween the annulus and formations. To prevent this, fluid loss controlagents are added to the cement slurry. Typically, these fluid lossagents are polymeric materials. A considerable variety of polymerclasses exist which will function to reduce the fluid loss of cement andothers are being developed.

Many types of polymeric fluid loss control agents increase the viscosityof the cement slurry. Surface active agents such as naphthalenesulfonate formaldehyde condensates, phenol sulfonate formaldehydecondensates, and lignosulfonates are commonly added to cement slurriesto disperse the cement particles and fluid loss additive, and reduce theslurry viscosity. In many cases, the dispersing and viscosity reducingsurface active agent was preblended into the fluid loss additivemixture. Examples of this art are contained in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,132,693,4,258,709, 4,433,731, 4,687,516, 4,569,395, and 4,742,094.

Some of the surfactants of the type used in the present invention havebeen employed in the preparation of liquid fluid loss additives whichmay be added to the cement slurry (U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,516). Suchsurfactants are used for a different purpose than in the presentinvention, namely to water wet a polymer upon contact with water in thepreparation of the cement slurry. An organic dispersing agent of thetype previously described is also present in this prior art.

It will be shown by data presented in the detailed description of thepresent invention hereinafter that a certain type of surfactant alonecan reduce the fluid loss of the cement slurry by interacting with thepolymer fluid loss agent in the slurry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the fluid loss of acement slurry by using certain types of surfactants which interact witha polymeric fluid loss control agent and disperse the cement in theslurry. The interaction between the polymer and surfactant isadvantageous to the formulation of cement slurries which provide betterinterfacial sealing between the cement and pipe and borehole wall uponhardening.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an additive for preparationof an aqueous oil field cement slurry comprising a water soluble polymerfunctional to reduce fluid loss of the slurry, said polymer beingpresent in the aqueous phase of the slurry in an amount in the range offrom about 0.1% to 5% by weight of the hydraulic cement of the slurry,and a surfactant functional both to interact with said polymer to reducefluid loss of the slurry and to disperse the cement in the slurry, saidsurfactant being present in the aqueous phase of the slurry in an amountin the range of from about 0.05% to 5% by volume of the aqueous phase ofthe slurry.

In addition, the present invention provides a method for preparing anaqueous oil field cement slurry comprising selecting a water solublepolymer functional to reduce fluid loss of the cement slurry, selectinga surfactant functional both to interact with the polymer to reducefluid loss of the cement slurry and to disperse the cement in theslurry, and blending the polymer, surfactant, water and cement to formthe cement slurry.

Other purposes, distinctions over the art, advantages and features ofthe invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon reviewof the following.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Applicant has discovered that certain types of surfactants and polymersinteract in such a manner that the fluid loss of a cement slurry can bereduced. The chemical composition of the surfactant which will provide areduction in fluid loss depends upon the type (or types) of polymericmaterials added to the cement slurry as the primary fluid loss controlagent. The chemical and physical mechanisms causing this improvementhave not been fully established. However, the physical testing datashows that these favorable interactions occur between certain polymergroups and certain surfactant classes. The surfactant may also act todisperse the cement slurry thereby reducing viscosity and eliminatingthe need for other dispersing agents such as sodium salts of naphthalenesulfonate formaldehyde condensates or sodium salts of phenol sulfonateformaldehyde condensates.

The fluid loss control polymers may be cellulose derivatives, polyvinylalcohols, polyvinyl alcohol/acetate derivatives, or vinylsulfonate/vinyl amide polymers. Derivatives of cellulose such as, butnot limited to, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, andcarboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose are among the most common additiveswhich control fluid loss. Other polymers such as polyvinylalcohol/polyvinyl acetate, vinyl sulfonate/vinyl amide,polyethyleneimine, reaction products of polyethyleneimine and sulfonatedorganic compounds (U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,094), hydrolyzed copolymers ofacrylamide and 2-acrylamido, 2-methyl propane sulfonic acid (U.S. Pat.No. 4,015,991) and polyvinyl pyrrilodone are other examples of the typesof materials used to reduce the filtration loss of cement slurries. Theconcentration of polymer in the water phase used to prepare the slurrywill generally be from about 0.1% to 5% by weight of the hydrauliccement of the slurry.

The surfactants of the invention may be anionic, amphoteric, cationic,nonionic or blends of nonionics with anionic or cationic surfactants.The concentration of surfactant in the water phase used to prepare theslurry will generally be from 0.05 to 5% by volume and more preferablybetween 0.1 and 3% by volume. Excellent results have been obtained withconcentrations between 1.17 and 2.33% by volume.

Certain combinations of surfactants and fluid loss control agents workparticularly well together. Why this happens is not understood at thistime. These combinations are as follows: (A) carboxymethyl hydroxyethylcellulose and any one of a sodium salt of sulfated nonylphenoxypoly(ethyleneoxy) ethanol, sodium lauryl sulfate, triethanolamine laurylsulfate, polyoxypropylene methyl ethyl ammonium acetate, polypropoxyquaternary ammonium phosphate, ethoxylated nonylphenol with about 10moles ethylene oxide, a blend of C₄ -C₈ fluoroaliphatic adducts, cocoamidopropyl betaine, a C₁₂ -C₁₃ linear alcohol ethoxylate with about 3moles ethylene oxide, a C₁₂ -C₁₃ linear alcohol ethoxylate sulfate withabout 3 moles ethylene oxide, a C₁₂ -C₁₅ linear alcohol ethoxylatesulfate with about 3 moles ethylene oxide, a C₁₄ -C₁₅ linear alcoholethoxylate sulfate with about 2.5 moles ethyleneoxide, a sodium salt ofalkyl aryl polyether sulfonate, cocoamidopropyl hydroxysultaine,polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, coco betaine, a C₉ -C₁₁ linearalcohol ethoxylate with about 2.5 moles ethylene oxide; (B) polyvinylalcohol/polyvinyl acetate and any one of sodium decyl sulfate, sodiumtridecyl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, a C₁₂ -C₁₃ linear alcoholethoxylate sulfate with about 3 moles ethylene oxide, a C₁₂ -C₁₅ linearalcohol ethoxylate sulfate with about 3 moles ethylene oxide, a C₁₄ -C₁₅linear alcohol ethoxylate sulfate with about 2.5 moles ethylene oxide, asodium salt of alkyl aryl polyether sulfonate, cocoamidopropylhydroxysultaine, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate.

Surfactants of the invention differ from prior art surface active agentswhich disperse the cement particles and interact with fluid loss controlagents to reduce fluid loss in one or more of the following ways. First,the surface active agents of the invention are effective surface tensionreducers. Prior art surface active agents, such as sodium salts ofnaphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensated or sodium salts of phenolsulfonate formaldehyde condensates do not reduce the surface tension ofthe aqueous phase of the slurry as much as the agents of the presentinvention. Examples of this are provided in Table 1. The surfactantreduces surface tension of the aqueous phase of the slurry from about 20to 55 dynes/centimeter. Second, the prior art surface active agents suchas sodium salts of naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensated orsodium salts of phenol sulfonate formaldehyde condensates are polymericmaterials having molecular weights typcially around 5000. Thesurfactants of the present invention generally have molecular weights ofless than 2000 and typically less than 1000. Third, the surfactants ofthe invention contribute to improved interfacial sealing between thehardened cement and the pipe or borehole wall. Fourth, the chemicalcomposition of the surfactants of the invention is different from theprior art.

The surfactants or mixtures of surfactants should be soluble in thecement slurry and not precipitate or otherwise degrade under the actionof the ions in the cement slurry and the temperature and pressureconditions occurring during the placement and curing of the cement.

Some surfactants may be solids--either powders or waxes or somesurfactants may be pastes or highly viscous solutions. In these cases, asolution of the surfactant may be prepared for addition to or injectioninto the cement slurry. Water and/or low molecular weight alcohols(monohydric or diols) such as reethanol, ethanol, n-propanol,isopropanol, ethylene glycol, or propylene glycol may be used to preparethe solution containing the surfactant for addition to the cementslurry. Powders may also be dry blended with the cement powder althoughan antifoam agent may be required in the mix water to allow the slurryto be prepared in the customary mixing equipment for oil and gas wellcement slurries.

Some combinations of surfactants of the present invention and polymericfluid loss control agents in a cement slurry do not reduce the fluidloss of the slurry to a value as low as the fluid loss achieved withprior art surface active agents such as the sodium salt of naphthalenesulfonate condensed with formaldehyde or the similar prior art agentsmentioned above. However, the better interfacial sealing produced by thepresent invention more than offsets any lesser achievement of fluid losscontrol by such combinations.

The term "hydraulic cement" is meant to encompass any inorganic cementwhich hardens or sets under water. Hydraulic cements, for example,include Portland cement, aluminous and pozzolan cement, blast furnaceslag cement, and the like. The term is also intended to include cementshaving extenders such as bentonite, silicates, gilsonite, perlite,pozzolan or glass microspheres, ground coal or silica fume. The termalso includes cements used either without any appreciable sand oraggregate material or such cements mixed with granular filling material,such as sand, ground limestone, crushed firebrick and the like. Mixturesof Portland cement and lightweight cement (also referred to as talccement) or blast furnace slag cement are effective within the scope ofthe invention.

While various hydraulic cements can be utilized in forming the slurries,Portland cements of the various types identified as API Class A throughH and J cements are commonly utilized. These cements are identified anddefined in "API Specification for Materials and Testing for WellCements", API SPEC 10, Third Edition, Jul. 1, 1986, of the AmericanPetroleum Institute.

Various additives conventionally added to cement compositions useful incementing casings in a borehole of a well can also be added to the novelcement compositions herein in the amounts normally used. These additivescan include, for example, cement accelerators such as calcium chloride,sodium chloride, gypsum, sodium silicate and seawater; lightweightadditives such as bentonite, diatomaceous earth, gilsonite, coal,perlite, and pozzolan; heavy weight additives such as hematite,ilmenite, barite, silica flour, silica sand; cement retarders such aslignins, gluconic acid, sodium borate, boric acid, citric acid, andlignosulfonates. In addition, other unconventional additives such asxanthan gum or guar gum or its derivatives can also be used.

A defoamer may be used with the invention. The defoamer is commonlyemployed in an amount from about 0.1 to 0.3% by weight of the cement andcan be selected from any of the commercially available defoamerscommonly used in cement slurries. Defoamers that are satisfactorily usedin slurries include FOAMMASTER®A and PD-1® by Diamond Shamrock Corp. andNALCO®3801 by Nalco Chemicals, Inc.

Where the cement is placed in an interval where the Static temperatureexceeds 230° F., it can also be desirable to include from about 20 to50% silica sand or silica flour by weight of the cement, in the slurriesof the invention to prevent strength retrogression. At statictemperatures over about 230° F. the strength of the cement will decreaseover a period of time unless crystalline silica is added.

The mixing water for the slurry can be fresh water, brine or seawater.Mixing water is utilized with the dry cement composition to produce afluid pumpable slurry. The amount of water used can vary over a widerange depending upon the consistency of the slurry, the density of theslurry required, the strength requirement for the particular job, andother factors.

Slurries in accordance with the invention can be formed through the useof conventional techniques and apparatus normally employed in wellcementing operations. The surfactant may be added to the bulk cementslurry prepared in a holding tank on the surface according to aprocedure commonly referred to as batch mixing. However, the surfactantmay be injected continuously into the slurry as it is prepared andpumped into the well by the use of an injection pump. Both operationshave been successfully performed in field applications without problems.

The cement of the present invention is injected into a selected "part"of the well. This "part" may be between casings, between a casing and aborehole, between a casing and a filter cake deposited on a borehole,etc. The cementing may be a "primary" cementing application or therepairing of a previous cementing application, e.g. "remedial" or"squeeze" cementing which can be conducted through perforations in thecasing and fractures in the old cement, etc.

The following Tables demonstrate the invention and provide examples ofcombinations of surfactants and fluid loss control agents which interactsynergistically to reduce the filtration loss of cement slurries.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Surface Tension of Solutions Containing                                       Surface Active Agents in Distilled Water at 25° C.                                      Concentration                                                                             Surface Tension                                  Additive         % by weight dynes/sq. cm                                     ______________________________________                                        PRIOR ART                                                                     Naphthalene Sulfonate Formal-                                                                  0.5         73.2                                             dehyde Condensate (Sodium                                                     salt)                                                                         Naphthalene Sulfonate Formal-                                                                  1.0         71.7                                             dehyde Condensate (Sodium                                                     salt)                                                                         Phenol Sulfonate Formalde-                                                                     0.5         71.7                                             hyde Condensate                                                               Phenol Sulfonate Formalde-                                                                     1.0         70.2                                             hyde Condensate                                                               Blend of Calcium and Sodium                                                                    0.1         71.0                                             Lignosulfonates                                                               Blend of Calcium and Sodium                                                                     0.25       68.3                                             Lignosulfonates                                                               Blend of Calcium and Sodium                                                                    0.5         60.9                                             Lignosulfonates                                                               PRESENT INVENTION                                                             Coco Amido Betaine                                                                             0.2         33.4                                             Coco Amido Betaine                                                                             1.0         33.1                                             Sodium lauryl sulfate                                                                          0.2         25                                               ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Comparison of APl Fluid Loss @ 175° F.                                 1000 psi Differential Pressure                                                Filter Medium: 325 mesh Stainless Steel Screen                                Cement Formulation: Class H Portland                                          Cement + 0.6% (bwoc) Carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl                               cellulose.sup.1 + 40% (bwoc) Fresh Water                                                              API       Interfacial                                                         Fluid     Sealing                                                             Loss      Quality at                                                 Concen-  cc's/     Cement-Pipe                                 Surfactant Description                                                                       tration  30 minutes                                                                              Interface                                   ______________________________________                                        Control, no surface active                                                                            89        Very poor                                   agents                                                                        PRIOR ART                                                                     Sodium salt of naphthalene                                                                   0.75%              Very Poor                                   sulfonate condensed with                                                                     bwoc                                                           formaldehyde                                                                  Sodium salt of phenol                                                                        0.75%    40        Very Poor                                   sulfonate condensed with                                                                     bwoc                                                           formaldehyde                                                                  PRESENT lNVENTlON                                                             Sodium salt of sulfated                                                                      2.33%    30        Excellent                                   nonylphenoxy poly                                                                            bvow                                                           (ethyleneoxy) ethanol                                                         (Aerosol NPES-458 ® by                                                    American Cyanamid                                                             Chemical Products Div.)                                                       Sodium lauryl sulfate                                                                        2.33%    44        Excellent                                   (AVIROL ® SL-2010 by                                                                     bvow                                                           Henkel Corp.)                                                                 Triethanolamine lauryl                                                                       2.33%    74        Excellent                                   sulfate (CONCO TEA ®                                                                     bvow                                                           Sulfate by Continental                                                        Chemical Co.)                                                                 Polyoxypropylene methyl                                                                      2.33%    78        Excellent                                   ethyl ammonium acetate                                                                       bvow                                                           (EMCOL ® C-55 by                                                          Witco Corp., Organics                                                         Division)                                                                     Polypropoxy quaternary                                                                       2.33%    66        Excellent                                   ammonium phosphate                                                                           bvow                                                           (EMCO  ® C-57 by                                                          Witco Corp., Organics                                                         Division)                                                                     Ethoxylated nonylphenol                                                                      2.33%    62        Excellent                                   with 10 moles ethylene                                                                       bvow                                                           oxide (Dow POLY-                                                              GLYCOL ® 34 by Dow                                                        Chemical Company)                                                             Blend of C.sub.4 -C.sub.8 fluoro-                                                            2.33%    42        Excellent                                   aliphatic adducts                                                                            bvow                                                           (FLUOROAD ® 170C by                                                       3M Company, Industrial                                                        Chemicals Div.)                                                               Coco amidopropyl betaine                                                                     2.33%    66        Excellent                                   (MONATERIC ®                                                                             bvow                                                           ADA by Mona Industries,                                                       Inc.)                                                                         C.sub.12 -C.sub.13 linear alcohol                                                            2.33%    68        Excellent                                   ethoxylates with 3 moles                                                                     bvow                                                           ethylene oxide                                                                (NEODOL ® 23-3 by                                                         Shell Chemical Company)                                                       C.sub.12 -C.sub.13 linear alcohol                                                            2.33%    38        Excellent                                   ethoxylates with 3 moles                                                                     bvow                                                           ethylene oxide                                                                (NEODOL ® 23-3S by                                                        Shell Chemical Company)                                                       C.sub.12 -C.sub.15 linear alcohol                                                            2.33%    25        Excellent                                   ethoxylate sulfate with                                                                      bvow                                                           3 moles ethylene oxide                                                        (NEODOL ® 25-3S by                                                        Shell Chemical Company)                                                       C.sub.14 -C.sub.15 linear alcohol                                                            2.33%    45        Excellent                                   ethoxylate sulfate with                                                                      bvow                                                           2.5 moles ethylene oxide                                                      (NEODOL ® 45-2.5S by                                                      Shell Chemical Company)                                                       Sodium salt of alkyl                                                                         2.33%    52        Excellent                                   aryl polyether sulfonate                                                                     bvow                                                           (TRITON ® X-200 by                                                        Rohm and Haas Company)                                                        Cocoamidopropyl                                                                              2.33%    74        Excellent                                   hydroxysultaine                                                                              bvow                                                           (VARION ® CAS by                                                          Sherex Chemical                                                               Company, Inc.)                                                                Poloxethylene (20)                                                                           2.33%    50        Excellent                                   sorbitan monooleate                                                                          bvow                                                           (TWEEN ® 80 by ICI                                                        Americas, Inc.)                                                               Coco betaine   2.33%    80        Excellent                                   (VELVETEX ® Coco                                                                         bvow                                                           Betaine by Henkel Corp.)                                                      C.sub.9 -C.sub.11 linear alcohol                                                             2.33%    72        Excellent                                   ethoxylate with 2.5 moles                                                                    bvow                                                           ethylene oxide                                                                (NEODOL ® 91-2.5 by                                                       Shell Chemical Company)                                                       ______________________________________                                         .sup.1 Product tested was Diacel LWL by Drilling Specialties Co.,             Bartlesville, Oklahoma                                                        *bwoc = by weight of cement                                                   **bvow = by volume of mix water solution                                 

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        Comparison of API Fluid Loss @ 175° F.                                 1000 psi Differential Pressure                                                Filter Medium: 325 mesh Stainless Steel Screen                                Cement Formulation: Class H Portland                                          Cement + 1.0% (bwoc) Polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl                              acetate.sup.1 + 40% (bwoc) Fresh Water                                                                API       Interfacial                                                         Fluid     Sealing                                                             Loss      Quality at                                                 Concen-  cc's/     Cement-Pipe                                 Surfactant Description                                                                       tration  30 minutes                                                                              Interface                                   ______________________________________                                        Control, no surface active                                                                            635       Very Poor                                   agents                                                                        PRIOR ART                                                                     Sodium salt of naphthalene                                                                   0.75%    20        Poor                                        sulfonate condensed with                                                                     bwoc                                                           formaldehyde                                                                  Sodium salt of phenol                                                                        0.75%    22        Poor                                        sulfonate condensed with                                                                     bwoc                                                           formaldehyde                                                                  PRESENT lNVENTION                                                             Sodium decyl sulfate                                                                         2.33%    100       Excellent                                   (AVIROL ® SA-4110 by                                                                     bvow                                                           Henkel Corp.)                                                                 Sodium tridecyl sulfate                                                                      2.33%    40        Excellent                                   (AVIROL ® SA-4113 by                                                                     bvow                                                           Henkel Corp.)                                                                 Sodium lauryl sulfate                                                                        2.33%    38        Excellent                                   AVIROL ® SL-2010 by                                                                      bvow                                                           Henkel Corp.)                                                                 Cocoamidopropyl betaine                                                                      2.33%    34        Excellent                                   (MONATERIC ® CAB                                                                         bvow                                                           by Mona Industries, Inc.)                                                     C.sub.12 -C.sub.13 linear alcohol                                                            2.33%    60        Excellent                                   ethyoxylate sulfate with                                                                     bvow                                                           3 moles ethylene oxide                                                        (NEODOL ® 23-3S by                                                        Shell Chemical Company)                                                       C.sub.12 -C.sub.15 linear alcohol                                                            2.33%    20        Excellent                                   ethoxylate sulfate with                                                                      bvow                                                           3 moles ethylene oxide                                                        (NEODOL ® 25-3S by                                                        Shell Chemical Company)                                                       C.sub.14 -C.sub.15 linear alcohol                                                            2.33%    96        Excellent                                   ethoxylate sulfate with                                                                      bvow                                                           2.5 moles ethylene oxide                                                      (NEODOL ® 45-2.5S by                                                      Shell Chemical Company)                                                       Sodium salt of alkyl aryl                                                                    2.33%    46        Excellent                                   polyether sulfonate                                                                          bvow                                                           (TRITON ® X-200 by                                                        Rohm and Haas Co.)                                                            Cocoamidopropyl                                                                              2.33%    64        Excellent                                   hydroxysultaine                                                                              bvow                                                           (VARION ® CAS by                                                          Sherex Chemical                                                               Company, Inc.)                                                                Poloxethylene (20)                                                                           2.33%    68        Excellent                                   sorbitan monooleate                                                                          bvow                                                           (TWEEN 80 by ICI                                                              Americas Inc.)                                                                ______________________________________                                         .sup.1 Product tested was Halliburton's LAP1                                  *bwoc = by weight of cement                                                   **bvow = by volume of mix water solution                                 

The foregoing description of the invention is merely intended to beexplanatory thereof, and various changes in the details of the describedprocesses and compositions may be made within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for preparing an aqueous oil fieldcement slurry for injection between a borehole and a pipe within theborehole, comprising:preparing an effective quantity of a water-solublepolymer functional to reduce fluid loss of the cement slurry; preparingan effective quantity of a surfactant functional 1) to interact withsaid polymer to reduce fluid loss of the cement slurry, 2) to disbursethe cement in the slurry, and 3) to improve interfacial sealing betweenthe cement and at least one of a) the pipe, and b) the borehole, saidsurfactant reducing the surface tension of the aqueous phase of theslurry by from about 20 to 55 dynes/centimeter; and blending thepolymer, surfactant, water, and cement to form the cement slurry whichis substantially free of naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensate,phenol sulfonate formaldehyde condensate, calcium and sodiumlignosulfonate blends, sodium salt of naphthalene sulfonate condensedwith formaldehyde and sodium salt of phenol sulfonate condensed withformaldehyde.
 2. A method for preparing an aqueous oil field cementslurry for injection between a borehole and a pipe within the borehole,comprising:preparing an effective quantity of carboxymethyl hydroxyethylcellulose polymer functional to reduce fluid loss of the cement slurry;preparing an effective quantity of a surfactant functional 1) tointeract with said polymer to reduce fluid loss of the cement slurry, 2)to disburse the cement in the slurry, and 3) to improve interfacialsealing between the cement and at least one of a) the pipe, and b) theborehole, said surfactant reducing the surface tension of the aqueousphase of the slurry by from about 20 to 55 dynes/centimeter, thesurfactant being selected from the group consisting of a sodium salt ofsulfated nonylphenoxy poly(ethyleneoxy)ethanol, sodium lauryl sulfate,triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, polyoxypropylene methyl ethyl ammoniumacetate, polypropoxy quaternary ammonium phosphate, ethoxylatednonylphenol with about 10 moles ethylene oxide, a blend of C₄ -C₈fluoroaliphatic adducts, coco amidopropyl betaine, a C₁₂ -C₁₃ linearalcohol ethoxylate with about 3 moles ethylene oxide, a C₁₂ -C₁₃ linearalcohol ethoxylate sulfate with about 3 moles ethylene oxide, a C₁₂ -C₁₅linear alcohol ethoxylate sulfate with about 3 moles ethylene oxide, aC₁₄ -C₁₅ linear alcohol ethoxylate sulfate with about 2.5 molesethyleneoxide, a sodium salt of alkyl aryl polyether sulfonate,cocoamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate,coco betaine, a C₉ -C₁₁ linear alcohol ethoxylate with about 2.5 molesethylene oxide; and blending the polymer, surfactant, water, and cementto form the cement slurry.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the slurryis substantially free of naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensate,phenol sulfonate formaldehyde condensate, calcium and sodiumlignosulfonate blends, sodium salt of naphthalene sulfonate condensedwith formaldehyde and sodium salt of phenol sulfonate condensed withformaldehyde.